FABRIC: WOOL

Meet Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, Founder, Director, and Board Member of Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco. Together with other Quechua weavers from her home of Chinchero, Alvarez was concerned that Cusqueñan textiles were disappearing into history. With this concern in mind, Alvarez began the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco, dedicated to preserving and practicing indigenous sustainable textile creations. Today, the CTTC works with a variety of weaving groups to keep the traditions of unique cultural textile dyeing and designing alive, using their education center to further promote an interactive relationship between the weavers and the general public. To Alvarez, the power of community is everything—something she emphasizes in the CTTC. As she says, “I think so many things in the world have been accomplished as a community power. You go with a goal, you participate—many different ages—with effort, with love, with pride, and you accomplish amazing things. So textiles and the type of patchwork can be done. Anything can have the capacity, and ability when joining efforts. It’s wonderful. And the energy that goes into the business…you can imagine how wonderful it is to be connected with our global earth and natural environment.” With the CTTC, Alvarez is combining the strength of group work with a mission to fix humanity’s environmental footprint, save traditions, and inspire a community.